Half a Century eBook

The Visiter published an article on “The
Two Riddles,” in which was drawn a picture of
a scantily clad woman, with bruised and bleeding feet,
clasping an infant to her bosom, panting before her
pursuers up Third street. The master called on
all good citizens for help. The cry reached the
ears of the tall editor of the Journal seated
at his desk. He dropped his pen, hastily donned
his new brass collar and started in hot pursuit of
this wicked woman, who was feloniously appropriating
the property of her master.

The other Riddle—­the Presbyterian pastor—­planted
himself by the lamp post on the corner of Third and
Market streets, and with spectacles on nose and raised
hands, loudly implored divine blessing on the labors
of his tall namesake. The Visiter concluded
by advising masters who had slaves to catch, to apply
to these gentlemen, who would attend to business from
purely pious and patriotic motives.

I did not see Mr. Riddle for two weeks after the publication
of the sketch, and then we met on the street.
He had never before been angry or vexed with me, but
now he was both, and said:

“How could you do me such an injustice?”

“Why is it an injustice?”

“Oh you know it is! You know I would cut
off my right hand, before I would aid in capturing
a fugitive.”

“Then why do you counsel others to do it?”

“Oh you know better! and Rev. Riddle, he and
his friends are distressed about it. You do not
know what you have done! I have already had three
letters from the South, asking me to aid in returning
fugitives, and he, too, has had similar applications.
Oh it is too humiliating, too bad. You must set
it right!”

I agreed to do so, and the Visiter explained
that it had been mistaken in saying that both or either
of the two Riddles would aid in returning fugitives.
They both scorned the business, and Robt. M.,
would cut off his right hand, rather than engage in
it. He only meant that other people should do
what would degrade him. He was not a good citizen,
and did not intend to be. As for his Reverence,
he would shirk his Christian duties; would not pray
by that lamppost, or any other lamp-post, for the
success of slave-catchers. He had turned his back
upon Paul, and had fallen from grace since preaching
his famous sermon. The gentlemen had been accredited
with a patriotism and piety of which they were incapable,
and a retraction was necessary; but if any other more
patriotic politician or divine, further advanced in
sanctification would send their names to the Visiter,
it would notify the South.

In answering Bible arguments, as to the righteousness
of the Fugitive Slave Bill, the main dependence of
the Visiter was Deuteronomy xxiii: 15
and 16:

“Thou shalt not deliver unto his master, the
servant which is escaped from his master unto thee.

“He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in
that place where he shall choose, in one of thy gates,
where it liketh him best, thou shalt not oppress him.”